From Beige to Brilliant: CFD Featured in HD&D
We were so excited to have this artistic, art deco-inspired home design featured in Home Design & Decor Triangle Edition. We loved this home and these clients so much, and transforming their home was full of creativity and connection. Their love of color and their deep ties to NC history and local art made it all the more exciting to create this unique home.
Deep Design Roots
These clients are NC natives with deep roots in their home state. They spent their careers living and working in the heart of NYC, and had a particular love of the classic city architecture of the Art Deco era. When they decided to return to this area for retirement, this luxury townhome in Chapel Hill drew them in. However, it needed a lot of love to become a home that was fit for them. One of the most important creative inspirations for this design was to tie together their history, taking all of the milestones and memories that were most important to them and creating a home that reflected them beautifully.
This fully custom banquette was drawn on site and handcrafted specifically for this space. The chandelier was chosen to reflect the symmetry and shape of the Chrysler Building, one of the couple’s favorite NYC sights.
A Bit of the Unexpected
One part of this design we loved the most involved a little bit of the unexpected. Our clients inherited several much-loved heirloom antiques midway through the design process. They were special pieces, and we pivoted the entire design plan to integrate them seamlessly into the home. Incorporating these beautiful family legacy pieces into the design was important to the family, and so we made it a priority to create intentional spaces for them and expand the design to weave this precious family legacy through multiple rooms throughout the house.
We found the perfect home for this gorgeous antique credenza nestled in the bay windows of the sitting room. It adds character (those legs though, truly!) and is the perfect piece to complement the art deco undercurrents and vibrant color in this space.
Local Art Love
These clients have a passion for local art, and in particular, handmade pottery by local artisans. Their collection is incredible, unique, and so diverse. One of the foundations of the design was to find ways to draw on the color and rich artistic elements in their collection. The palette of deep wine in the sitting room and jewel tones throughout the house were inspired by their pottery pieces. We also loved incorporating a focal art piece into this room, an original by Chatham County artist Sarah Graham.
Formerly a dining room (before picture is there on the right), we transformed this room into an entertaining and relaxing space, as well as a place to showcase much of the couple’s unique pottery collection.
Storied Details
The powder bath was another place where we could let their art collection shine. A pair of stunning antique medallions was something they found on a trip abroad, and they needed a dedicated home in the house. We custom-framed them, bringing in a hint of the peacock blue from the adjacent sitting room. The hand-blocked Farrow and Ball wallpaper echoes the unique historic and artistic charm and character that flows throughout the house.
Bringing together detailed, symmetrical shapes and elegant hues was an undercurrent throughout the design, and reflective of the clients’ love of the art deco style. Bringing life to some previously unused spaces like the loft corner and the bay window in the office made the home feel intentional and complete.
Warm Retreat
The primary bedroom was one of our favorite rooms to create a warm, luxurious, retreat-like space. The client fell in love with the twin stools pictured at the end of the bed, and the fabric we selected to revitalize them. This became the inspiration point for the room. Layering textures and colors, along with an art deco-inspired wallpaper print, gave the room an undeniably plush feel that the clients loved.
The 2nd-floor landing (pictured above, right) offered an opportunity to create a meaningful design moment. Incorporating some of the client’s existing pieces, such as a cozy armchair and an antique hutch, we placed modern etageres to bring more of the client’s favorite pieces close by. Custom-patterned rug, plus drapery and original art by Fern Cassidy, turned this overlooked spot into a beautiful, unique space for reading and relaxing.
What an immense privilege to create this storied, inspired home for a wonderful family. Creating deep meaning and connection through design is one of our favorite parts of what we do, and seeing it in print is so exciting. Our thanks to these incredible clients and everyone at HD&D for commemorating this design in such a beautiful way.
We’re so glad you came over to hang out with us on the CFD blog today. We love what we do, and we love sharing it with you. Curious about our process? Check out more about our full-home design here. Learn about our decades of design experience and how we make your home one-of-a-kind here.
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